Abstract

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Background
Keywords
Findings
Authors

Background

The physical and mental health of children of teenage mothers differs from that of children of older mothers. Compared with the overall population of Canada, Inuit experience first-time pregnancy earlier. However, little population-based research has examined health outcomes for Inuit children of women who began childbearing in their teens.

Data and Methods

This study uses data from the 2006 Aboriginal Children's Survey to compare physical and mental health outcomes of 2- to 5-year-old Inuit children of teenage and older mothers.

Results

The physical and mental health outcomes of Inuit children differed depending on whether their mother had been a teenager or aged 25 or older when she began childbearing. Although some differences were explained by socio-economic factors, others, namely, ear infections, dental problems and hyperactivity/inattention, were not.

Interpretation

Further research is needed to determine what underlies differences in the mental and physical health of Inuit children of teenage and older mothers.

Keywords

Aboriginal, child behaviour, child rearing, maternal age, parenting, socio-economic factors

Findings

The demographic characteristics of Inuit youth in Canada differ from those of non-Inuit youth. Children aged 0 to 4 make up a larger percentage of the Inuit population (12%) than they do of the non-Aboriginal population (5%). At ages 15 to 19, the fertility rate of Inuit females substantially exceeds national rates. In 2009, 20% of births in Nunavut (where 85% of the population self-identified as Inuit in 2006) were to 15- to 19-year-olds, compared with 4% of births in Canada overall. [Full Text]

Author

Anne Guèvremont (1-613-951-2432; anne.guevremont@statcan.gc.ca) and Dafna Kohen (1-613-951-3346; dafna.kohen@statcan.gc.ca) are with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.

What is already known on this subject?

Pregnancy rates among Inuit teenagers are relatively high, compared with rates among teenagers in the Canadian population overall.
Inuit women who begin childbearing as teenagers generally have less favourable socio-economic conditions than do Inuit women who first give birth at older ages.
Canadian and American research has found that, in general, children of teenage mothers are more likely to have poor physical and mental health, compared with children of older mothers.
Little population-based research has examined outcomes for Inuit children of teenage mothers.

What does this study add?

Preschool-aged Inuit children of teenage mothers were less likely to be in very good/excellent health, more likely to have ever had an ear infection or dental problems, and had higher scores for emotional problems and inattention-hyperactivity, compared with preschool-aged Inuit children of older mothers.
Some differences―being in very good/excellent health and emotional problems―were explained by socio-economic factors, but other differences were not―ear infection, dental problems, and inattention-hyperactivity.